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State Leads Delegation to Expodefensa 2019

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Colombian trade show hosts attendees from more than 30 countries

BALTIMORE, MD (December 2, 2019) – The Maryland Department of Commerce is leading a delegation of nine Maryland companies this week to Expodefensa 2019, an international exhibition for security and defense in Latin America. This is the first year that Maryland – through Commerce’s Office of International Investment and Trade – has participated in the Bogotá trade show.

Maryland’s booth at the show will promote the state’s innovative technology and defense assets and assist the delegation with expanding into the global marketplace. Companies will also receive matchmaking assistance through Maryland’s global office in Bogotá, as well as the help of on-site interpreters at the trade show.

“From cybersecurity firms to air and maritime surveillance suppliers, Maryland has no shortage of security and defense services to offer to the Latin American market,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “We look forward to helping our delegation expand internationally in order to grow their businesses not only in Maryland, but across the globe.”

The nine Maryland companies traveling to Expodefensa are CP Cases Inc., a Bishopville designer and manufacturer of performance protective cases; ITNova Consulting, a Glen Burnie-based business specializing in IT solutions and services; Manufacturing Engineering Systems (MES, Inc.), an award-winning Rockville firm that provides IT, education, simulation, and training solutions; Maven Engineering, a Rockville supplier of complex machined parts to the defense and railroad industries; Planar Monolithics Industries, a Frederick company that provides its microwave and monolithic circuits to the space and military industries, among others; Rekor Systems, Inc., a vehicle recognition software provider based in Columbia; Sea-Fire Marine Products, a world leader in marine fire suppression technology in Baltimore; Securityhunter, Inc., an electronic and information security solutions supplier in Windsor Mill; and WGS Systems, an award-winning small business in Frederick that provides innovative systems to military and intelligence organizations.

Several of the companies attending Expodefensa were awarded ExportMD grants from Maryland Commerce, including Sea-Fire Marine who is attending the international trade show for the first time. The company previously traveled to Colombia to grow its customer base and hopes the exposure at Expodefensa will build on its prior experience in Latin America.

“The ExportMD grant helped pave the way to this Expodefensa opportunity with the Maryland delegation,” said Alain Isabelle, technical sales consultant at Sea-Fire Marine. “This trade show is a good opportunity to present Sea-Fire for additional exposure and build new relationships with the Colombian Navy and other government entities.”

ExportMD grants are provided to small and mid-size companies on a monthly basis to assist with travel and marketing costs associated with international trade shows. The next application deadline for the program is January 1, 2020 and eligibility requirements can be found on our website.